Fauci: It Is ‘When, Not If’ Definition of Fully Vaccinated Will Mean Three Shots

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Dr. Anthony Fauci said Wednesday on CNN’s “At This Hour” that it was a matter of “when not if” the definition of fully vaccinated will change to include a third booster shot.

Bolduan said, “Pfizer’s chief scientific officer said this morning on CNN that he thinks fully vaccinated against Omicron, it means three doses. Do you think the definition of fully vaccinated should now change?”

Fauci said, “Well, you know, as you say, it’s a technical, almost semantic definition. And it is the definition for requirements if someone says, are you fully vaccinated to be able to attend class in a university or college or be able to work in a workplace? Right now, Kate, I don’t see that changing tomorrow or this week, or next week. But certainly, when you want to talk about optimal protection, I don’t think anyone would argue that optimal protection is with a third shot. Whether or not it officially gets changed in the definition, I think that will be considered literally on a daily basis. That’s always on the table.”

Bolduan said, “This discussion has been going on for a bit. With this data coming in this morning, I’m kind of stuck with is it a matter now of when, not if, the definition of fully vaccinated changes?”

Fauci said, “My own personal opinion, Kate, is what you said is correct. It’s going to be a matter of when, not if.”

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